Automatic drinking fountain



May 27, 1958 E. B. .JoHNsoN 2,836,151

AUTOMATIC DRINKING FOUNTAIN Filed Aug. 6, 1954' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

EarZJmson,

56 wwe@ AT T0 RNE Y.

E. B. JoHNsoN 2,836,151

M ay 27, 1958 AUTOMATIC DRINKING FOUNTAIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 6. 1954 INVENTOR.

BIWJOLHSOIL ATTORNEY.

United States Patent AUTOMATIC DRINKING FOUNTAIN Earl B. Johnson, Freehold, N. fi.

Application August 6, 1954, Serial No. 448,351

Claims. (Cl. 119-81) rl'his invention relates to improvements in water fountains and more particularly to drinking fountains of the type illustrated, described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 85,066, tiled April 2, 1949, issued March 13, 1956, as Patent No. 2,737,967, and in Patent No. 2,452,305 issued to me October 26, 1948, and in Patent No. 2,662,503 issued December l5, 1953. Each of said patents, the co-pending application and the present application discloses'a fountain having an upwardly open container having an outer peripheral vertical wall or edge portion, and a reservoir disposed in the container for up and down movement and providing a water space between said reservo-ir and container, and having a substantially peripheral marginal lip within the peripheral wall portion, said reservoir preventing ilow of water from the container into the reservoir except at the upper part thereof. Said reservoir is of a shape and weight to be buoyed by water in the container when less than a predetermined small amount of water is in the reservoir, and to sink in the water when the reservoir receives apredetermined larger amount of water from the container.

' An upwardly pointed water supply jet is mounted in the lower part of the container. Water under pressure from a water supply system is supplied through said jet, and a yieldable sealing disk is secured to and under the axial portion of the reservoir and disposed over and adjacent to said jet and is adapted to rest upon the jet to stop water iiow therefrom when the reservoir received enough water therein to cause it to sink.

A A loose cover loosely mounted on the container of said patents is disposed over the reservoir and said space to prevent undesired material from falling into the reservoir .and said space, and comprises a bowl-shaped intramarginal part in and spaced from the reservoir, said bowlshaped part forming a drinking space and being provided near its bottom with an inlet opening communicating with the reservoir.

The general operation of thefountain of Figure l is the same as in my patents. When water is drunk from the drinking space, the level in the drinking space and reservoir is lowered until the reservoir iioats and raises the disk from the jet, allowing water to ow from the jet over the rim ot the reservoir and through the inlet openings of the bowl-shaped part until the reservoir sinks, causing the disk to close the jet, whereupon the operation may be repeated.

An impo-rtant object of the present invention is to provide means allowing the cover to be removed by hand for cleaning, but preventing the cover from being oated ofi when the water supply having been cut oi is again admitted to the fountain.

Another object is to provide means for eliminating the -retarding eiect o capiliarity and surface tension of the water between reservoir and container without eliminating the centering and lubricating effect of the water held l by the surface tension. v

Otherobjectsof the invention are to provide a corro- '.sion proof water supply jet, and au ecieut and economical guard frame to prevent poultry from getting into the drinking space.

To accomplish the first stated object l have provided an exterior outwardly and downwardly facing annular shoulder face just under said vertical wall of the container, and in the downturned outer loose rim of cover l have provided an inwardly pressed indentation adjacent to said iniet opening and engaging under said shoulder face to prevent the rise of the rim at said indentation, the inlet opening being held down to allow water to enter and sink the cover when the water supply is restored.

To eliminate the undesirable retarding effect of surface tension without eliminating the centering eiiect l have provided a large number of upwardly and inwardly turned spaced places in the outer periphery of the outturned peripheral lip of the reservoir thereby to present evenly distributed short edge portions to the container at said shoulder face and vertical margin, thus to prevent excess of surface tension between the reservoir and container.

Additional objects of the invention are to etiect simplicity and efliciency in such drinking fountains and to provide an extremely simple fountain of this kind which is economical, durable, and reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture and install.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described in the specification and some ot the claims, the invention as described in the broader claims is not limited to these, and many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in the broader claims.

ln the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, one of many possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. l is a perspective showing the fountain with guard frame attached; v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged axial sectional view of the fountain on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a horizontai sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental axial sectional View on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3, and i Fig. 7 is a fragmental vertical sectional view through parts of the reservoir and container and through parts of the cover slightly tilted. Y

My improved drinking fountain comprises principally an upwardly open container iii and a reservoir 12 similar to those shown in my Patent No. 2,662,503.

The container lil has an upper deep substantially vertical outer cylindrical peripheral wall portion i4 having long notches (i6 in its upper edge, a narrow inwardly downwardly inclined Zone l just below the portion 14 forming an exterior shoulder face 29, and a downwardly extended inverted truste-conical lower central portion 22 (Fig. 5 having a lower flat part 24. The frnsto-conical portion 22 nests in and has nesting therein similarly shaped strengthening portions 26, 28 also having iiat central parts 2da, 241'), the three dat parts having registering openings 23 therethrough.

An upwardly directed slightly upwardly projecting tubular body 30 disposed through said three openings 2S has an upper angular head 32 disposed on said flat part 24, said body 3Q having a large diameter threaded por tion 34 just below said dat parts and a smaller diameter 'threaded portion 36 for engagement in a water supply pipe 3S. A nut 40 on said large diameter portion serves Yagainst each other.

for clamping the nut and said head 32 liquid tightagainst said at parts 24a, 24b and the flat parts 24', 24a, 2411" Said tubular body has internal threads l4-2 at the upper end receiving a threaded body 44 of a corrosion-proofstainless steel replaceable jet 46 having a small bore '43 axially therethrough and angular upper head Si? engaged on said angular'head 32 and having an inwardly curved conical face 52 extending to the upper'end of the bore 48. 'Y Y The reservoir 12 is loosely disposed within the container for up and down movementY thereon and Vhas atV 56 to reduce the surface tension and capillary attraction Vof the water between said edge 64 of .the lip and said zone 18 and vertical wall portion 14, without eliminat` ing the centering and lubricating eiect of the Vwater held by the surface tension. Y

Said at bottom 62 has riveted thereto a clip 66 (Fig. similar to that of Patent No. 2,662,503 and contain- Y. ing a thin disk 68 of rubber or other elastic material exposed throughY an opening 70 and adapted to rest on the jet 46 .to stop Vwater flow when more than a predetermined amount of water is in the reservoir.

A cover 74 over the container'has a deep intramarginal bowl 76 forming an upwardly open drinking space4 78, and a substantially vertical downturned rim wall 80 loosely surrounding the outer wall portion 14 and ,shoulder face of the container. The lower part 81 of the wall of the bowl part has an inlet opening 82 to allow water to ow from the reservoir into the drinking space 78. The long notches 16 allow the escape at .the loose -rim Wall 80 of any air that may be trapped in the upper part of the cover.

Said downturned rim wall 80 adjacent to the inlet opening 82 is provided with a horizontally elongated inwardly pressed portion forming an inner lug 84 disposed under the shoulder face 2t) to hold down the adjacent -side of the cover 7,4 and prevent the iloating oli of the reservoir 12 and cover when, after the water supply has been cutoi (as Afor repairs to the water supply system) and substantially all water has been drunk, from the cover and reservoir, water is again admitted through the jet. When the water supply is thus restored the side of the cover'opposite to the inlet opening 32 and said lug 84 will rise, but the inlet opening will remain down for The various parts of my fountain mayV be maderof the inlet of water from the reservoir into the drinking Y space 78 when the water supply is restored, thus sinking the cover.V

The looseness of the rim wall 80 allows the cover to Vbe pivotally raised by'hand while pivoting at the lug 84 until the'majorV portion of the rim wall clears the container, whereupon the cover may be removed entirely, for cleaning the fountain or for other purposes.

A guard frame for preventing poultry or other animals from getting into the drinking space is shown in Fig. l

and includes a substantially Vstiff slightly resilient wire re- Y 'taining and supporting ring 88 of inherent inner diameter brass, copper or other suitable material, Vbut the jet'46 is preferably made of 'stainless steel.

I claim as my invention: Y

l.V In combination, an upwardly open container havingV Va substantially vertical cylindrical Vouter wall portion and an inwardly inclined shoulder face under said portion; an upwardly open reservoirloosely disposed for up and down movement within the container; afsealing disk on the lower part of'the reservoir; a water supply jet projecting upwardlyV "into Vthe `container Vand adapted to' be engaged by said disk; and aV coverV over `the container having a substantially Vcylindrical vertical downturned Y rim loosely surrounding the outerperiphery of the container and having a lug engageable under lthe shoulder face, saidV cover havingV an intrainarginal ydownpressed portion forming a drinking space and`having an .inlet opening atits lower part on the side of the. cover adjacent to saidlug.

2. Ay poultry drinking fountain comprising, in'cornbination, an upwardly openlcontainer having a deep substantially vertical peripheralwallportion having a nar- YrowV inwardly downwardly inclined zone `just below the Wall portion forming an exterior shoulder face, and aV downwardly frusta-:conical lower central portion having Ya lower central Vliat part having an opening therethrough; an. upwardly open reservoir loosely disposed for up and down Ymovement. within the container; a sealing disk onthe lower part of. the reservoir; a water supply jet projecting upwardly into the container and adapted to be engaged bysaid disk; and a cover over the container having a substantially cylindricalV verticaly downturned rim. wall loosely `surrounding the outer peripheral wall Vportion of the container and said shoulder face and provided with a lug engageable under the shoulderface; Said cover having an intramarginalrdepressed portion providl ing a drinkingspace and having at `its lower part on the side ofthe cover an Vinlet opening adjacentto said lug".

3. In combination, an ,upwardly open container. `having a substantially vertical. cylindrical outer wall portion and an inwardly downwardlyinclined shoulder face .just under said portion; an upwardly open reservoir loosely disposed for up and downmovement within .the .container; a sealing disk on thelower Ypart of theV reservoir; a water supply jet vprojecting upwardly into the container and adapted tov be engagedby said` disk; a cover over `the container having a substantially vertical Vdownturned'rim wall loosely` surrounding the outer wall portion of the container and said shoulderY face anda deep intramarlgiual bowl forming an upwardly open drinking space; the lower part of the Wall of the bowl part having an inlet opening to allow water to ow from the. reservoir into the drinking space; said downturned rim'wall adjacent tothe inlet' opening being provided adjacent to said inlet opening with a` horizontally elongated inwardly pressed portion forming an inner lug disposed under the shoulder face to hold down the adjacent side of the cover and prevent the `tloating orf of the reservoir andcover when, after the water supply has been cut offvand substantially all water has been drunk from the cover and reservoir, water is again admitted through the jet; the inlet opening being held down to allow Water to .re-enter the reservoir; the looseness of the rim wall allowing th cover to be removed by hand. Y

4. In combination,` an upwardly open container hav-V ing a substantially vertical cylindrical outer wall portion; an upwardly open reservoir loosely disposed for up and down movement within the container and having an outturned lip having edge parts closely 'adjacentl to said wall portion; a sealing disk on the lower part of thereservoir; and a water supply jet projecting upwardly intov thereontainer and adapted to. be engaged by said disk;l the. outer margin et' said lip having a large number of upturned portions to limit the length of said edge parts to reduce the surface tension between the lip and said outer wall portion.

5. In combination, an upwardly open container having a substantially vertical cylindrical outer wall portion and inwardly inclined zone under the wall portion; a reservoir loosely disposed within the container for up and down movement thereon and having at its upper part an outturned peripheral lip having its outer edge adjacent to the said vertical wall portion and zone; said lip having a large number of equally spaced apart upwardly turned portions spaced away from said vertical wall portion to allow water passage space and to reduce the length of said outer edge to reduce the surface tension and capillary attraction of the water between said edge of the lip and said vertical wall portion without eliminating the centering and lubricating effect of the water held by the surface tension; a sealing disk on the lower part of the reservoir; a water supply jet projecting upwardly into the container and adapted to be engaged by said disk; and a cover over the container limiting upward movement of said upturned parts and having a downturned rim surrounding the outer periphery of the container, and an intramarginal depressed portion forming a drinking space and having an opening in the lower part of its side.

6. In a round poultry drinking fountain having an outer upwardly open container fed by a water jet controlled by means of a reservoir in the container by sinkor-buoyant action, a Vertical cylindrical wall on the container having a downwardly facing shoulder; a cover bowl over the container and having a downturned vertical rim loosely surrounding the wall, and an inwardly projecting lug on said rim for engaging under said shoulder, said bowl having an inlet opening adjacent the lug and in the lower part or" the cover bowl.

7. A poultry drinking fountain cover bowl and having a cylindrical flange depending from the periphery of the bowl and provided with an internally projecting lug on the flange at the bottom portion thereof, the bowl having an inlet opening in the lower part thereof and near the lug.

8. A poultry drinking fountain cover bowl and having a cylindrical ange depending from the periphery of the bowl and provided with an internally projecting lug on the flange at the bottom portion thereof, the bowl having an inlet opening in the lower part thereof and near the lug, said lug being for engagement under a cylindrical wall of a container over which the cover bowl is adapted to iit loosely.

9. In a poultry fountain having a container with a loosely disposed reservoir therein for controlling a water suppl :c he container, said container having a down- 'dly engagement surface at a peripheral portion thereof, said fountain having a cover bowl provided with a depending lip outer of said shoulder and with an opening in the lower portion of the bowl, the improvement en com ses an inwardly projecting restraining memon the bowl and adjacent the opening for engaging surface to hold down the bowl on the side having o ening.

l0. In a fountain as claimed in claim 9, said cover bowl being pivotable with respect to the container about points of engagement between the member and said surface to permit removal of the cover bowl from the container, the bowl and container being substantially inseparable in closed pivotal position and separable in open pivotal position.

Refer-enses Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 645,680 Chapman Mar. 20, 1900 1,014,490 Lamdin Jan. 9, 1912 l,580,484 Hadland Apr. 13, 1926 l,3l6,78l Johnston July 28, 1931 2,316,427 Hedrick Apr. 13, 1943 2,452,305 Johnson Oct. 26, 1948 2,489,431 Parker Nov. 29, 1949 2,494,809 Henning Jan. 17, 1950 2,562,503 Johnson Dec. 15, 1953 2,664,070 Nelson Dec. 29, 1953 

